EASY-ACCESS LUGGAGE ITEM

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a luggage item comprising first (1) and second (2) shells connected with a zipper (3) and forming a luggage item body (4), wherein at least the first shell (1) has at least one opening (5) for accessing the interior of the luggage item, wherein the opening (5) is completely covered with a flipping cover (6) attached to the first shell (1) at one side of the opening (5) and detachably attached to the first shell (1) at the opposite side of the opening (5) by a magnetic force.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an easy-access luggage item, particularly to a hand-luggage item.

Background of the invention

[0002] People travelling with luggage often have to access their luggage item to place something inside or to take it outside. It may be inconvenient for the traveler, especially if accessing of the luggage item requires exposing its content to others. One such occasion is a security check, which requires removal of electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops or external discs from the luggage item. Although it poses a considerable inconvenience to passengers, it is a necessary requirement to ensure proper X-ray imaging of the devices. The removal of the electronic devices from the luggage for inspection may be troublesome, especially if passengers travel with small children or are in a hurry.

[0003] Various luggage items with an easy access are known in the art. U.S. patent application US2009260940 describes a luggage item with an internal compartment for a computer storage case, which is attached to the luggage piece. The case may be fully removed through an opening in the luggage piece. The computer storage case can be totally separated from the luggage item and remain attached to the luggage item.

[0004] International patent application WO2012143521 discloses a luggage case containing an external compartment for receiving an object. The compartment is equipped with a laptop suspension and access system including four straps coupled together. The straps are configured to receive and secure the laptop, when positioned in the external compartment, and facilitate the extraction of the laptop from the compartment. The laptop is held at a selectively fixed depth defined by the bottom of the straps of the laptop suspension and access system. The external compartment is equipped with a zipper.

[0005] Further, U.S. Design Patent USD597309S describes an easy-access luggage item, comprising a panel, located at the front side of the item. To access the interior of the luggage item, the panel has to be opened by unzipping.

[0006] Yet further, U.S. Design Patent USD643624S discloses a luggage item with an easy access from outside, comprising two shells forming a luggage body, wherein the front shell comprises a moveable rigid panel, which in an open position provides an easy access to the interior of the luggage. The panel is closed by means of a locking mechanism, comprising a key.

[0007] Another luggage item is described in US9320341, provided with a plurality of pockets that may be equipped with a broad variety of interconnection mechanisms such as ziplocs, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, etc. Zippers used for securing the pockets are provided with zipper pulls, which in some embodiments may further comprise a locking feature, such as a pad lock, to lock the luggage item.

[0008] JP2017517318 discloses a luggage piece consisting of two shells, wherein the first shell contains a hole, covered with a flipping cover attached the first shell at one end and detachably attached to the first shell at the other end. The flipping cover engages with the TSA lock, thereby forming a secure closure.

[0009] Finally, in AU2016349726 a luggage item with a flap panel is described, the flap being closed by magnetic strips and further locked by a TSA-lock. The combination lock assembly includes a mechanism for rotating a clasp-like lock member that engages with locking member mounted to the interior surface of the edge of the front cover flap panel, when the user locks the front cover flap panel arranged in its closed configuration.

Summary of the invention

[0010] None of the prior art documents cited shows a luggage item that could be easily accessed using 'one hand operation'. Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a luggage item that could be accessed fast and easily from the outside, thereby reducing to minimum the time and effort required to do so, e.g. while moving through a security check, and at the same time would provide increased safety against theft, achieved in a simple and reliable manner.

[0011] In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a luggage item comprising a first shell and a second shell connected by a zipper provided with a pair of zipper pullers, the first and second shell forming together a luggage item body, wherein at least the first shell has at least one opening for accessing the interior of the luggage item. The opening is covered with a flipping cover attached to the shell at one side of the opening and detachably attached to the shell at the opposite side of the opening by a magnetic force. The first shell comprises a lock mechanism for receiving and securing the zipper pullers. The flipping cover comprises a lock hole arranged to surround the lock mechanism when the flipping cover is in a closed position, so that in such position the zipper pullers received and secured in the lock mechanism extend over the portion of the flipping cover between the zipper and the lock hole, thereby preventing any unauthorised opening of the flipping cover. The locking arrangement defined above is particularly effective in providing a simple and reliable protection unauthorised opening of the flipping cover, while not affecting negatively the ease of 'one hand operation' performed by an authorised used.

[0012] Preferably, the flipping cover is attached to the first shell at said one side of the opening either directly or by means of at least one intermediate element. In one preferred embodiment the connection between the flipping cover and the first shell at said one side of the opening is permanent. However, in an alternative embodiment the connection between the flipping cover and the first shell at said one side of the opening is releasable and accessible only from the inside of the luggage item.

[0013] Preferably, the flipping cover is made of flexible material. However, in an alternative embodiment the flipping cover can be rigid. In such case the permanent but hinged connection between the flipping cover and the first shell can be realised by means of at least one hinge of any type, including a traditional hinge element or a living hinge.

[0014] Preferably, the lock mechanism is selected from various types of locks, including in particular a zipper lock (such as a TSA lock® or the like), a cable or a pad lock.

[0015] Preferably, the detachable attachment of the flipping cover to the first shell is provided by at least one magnet located on the surface of the first shell and at least one corresponding metallic element made of magnetic metal or alloy, located at corresponding location(s) on the flipping cover. Even more preferably, the detachable attachment of the flipping cover to the first shell is provided by a pair of magnets located on the surface of the first shell and two corresponding metallic elements located at corresponding locations on the flipping cover.

[0016] Alternatively, the detachable attachment of the flipping cover to the first shell is provided by at least one magnet located on the flipping cover and at least one corresponding metallic element made of magnetic metal or alloy, located at corresponding location(s) on the surface of the first shell.

[0017] Both the magnetic element(s) and the metallic element(s) can take the form of plates or tapes and can be provided on respective surface with its/their one surface(s) being either directly exposed or covered by a thin layer of material, allowing the magnetic force to provide the detachable connection between the flipping cover and the first shell.

[0018] Preferably, the luggage item body comprises an additional separate compartment for storing a laptop computer, the compartment being accessible though the opening in the first shell.

[0019] The luggage item according to the invention is particularly suitable to use, when passengers travel with small children, or are in a hurry while moving though a security check. In such situations the fast and easy access to the luggage item provided by the invention is highly advantageous, while at the same time the risk of unauthorised access to the luggage item such as theft is significantly reduced. The interior of the luggage item can be accessed in 'one hand operation', and the passenger can easily and securely put e.g. jacket, mobile phone or laptop into the luggage item.

[0020] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, with no limiting effect whatsoever. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims attached.

Brief description of figures

[0021] The easy-access luggage item according to the invention will be now explained in more detail by exemplary embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an easy-access luggage item according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention with the flipping cover in a closed position;

Fig. 2 shows the upper part of the luggage item of fig. 1 with the flipping cover in a partially position;

Fig. 3 shows the upper part of the luggage item of fig. 1 with the flipping cover in a closed position, but with the flipping cover being transparent to show the magnets on the first shell surface;

Fig. 4 shows the luggage item of fig. 1 with the flipping cover in a fully open position providing access to the additional compartment for storing a laptop computer.

Detailed description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a luggage item comprising first (1) and second (2) shells connected with a zipper (3) provided with a pair of zipper pullers (9). The first (1) and second (2) shell together form a luggage item body (4), wherein the first shell (1) has an opening (5) for accessing the interior of the luggage item. In the closed position shown in fig. 1 the opening (5) is completely covered with a flipping cover (6) of flexible material, permanently attached to the first shell (1) at one side of the opening (5) and detachably attached to the first shell (1) at the opposite side of the opening (5) by a magnetic force. The first shell (1) comprises a TSA zipper lock (7) and the flipping cover (6) comprises a lock hole (8). The lock hole (8) is arranged to surround the TSA zipper lock (7) when the flipping cover (6) is in a closed position. Further, in the closed position shown in fig. 1 the zipper pullers (9) are received and secured in the zipper lock (7) and extend over the portion of the flipping cover (6) between the zip (3) and the lock hole (8), thereby preventing any unauthorised opening of the flipping cover (6).

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the upper portion of the luggage item in a partially open position of the flipping cover (6). In such position the zipper pullers (9) are released from the zipper lock (7), thus allowing the flipping cover (6) to be detached manually from the first shell (1) to uncover the opening (5). The detachable attachment of the flipping cover (6) to the first shell (1) is provided by two magnets (10, 12), located on the surface of the first shell (1) (as shown in fig. 3, wherein the flapping cover (6) has been shown in a closed position but in a transparent manner) and two metal elements (11, 13) made of magnetic metal or alloy, located on the flipping cover (6) at corresponding locations (as shown in fig. 4, presenting the luggage item with the flapping cover in its fully open position). The luggage item body (4) comprises an additional compartment (14) for storing a laptop computer, which can be accessed by the opening (5) in the first shell (1), when the flapping cover (6) is in its open position.

Claims

1. A luggage item comprising a first shell (1) and a second shell (2) shell connected by a zipper (3) provided with a pair of zipper pullers (9), the first (1) and second (2) shell forming together a luggage item body (4), wherein at least the first shell (1) has at least one opening (5) for accessing the interior of the luggage item, the opening (5) being covered with a flipping cover (6) attached to the first shell (1) at one side of the opening (5) and detachably attached to the first shell (1) at the opposite side of the opening (5) by a magnetic force and wherein the first shell (1) comprises a lock mechanism (7) for receiving and securing the zipper pullers (9), characterized in that the flipping cover (6) comprises a lock hole (8) arranged to surround the lock mechanism (7) when the flipping cover (6) is in a closed position, so that in such position the zipper pullers (9) received and secured in the lock mechanism (7) extend over the portion of the flipping cover (6) between the zipper (3) and the lock hole (8), thereby preventing any unauthorised opening of the flipping cover (6).

2. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the flipping cover (6) is attached to the first shell (1) at said one side of the opening (5) either directly or by means of at least one intermediate element.

3. The luggage item according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection between the flipping cover (6) and the first shell (1) at said one side of the opening (5) is permanent.

4. The luggage item according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection between the flipping cover (6) and the first shell (1) at said one side of the opening (5) is releasable and accessible only from the inside of the luggage item.

5. The luggage item according any of the claims 1-4, wherein the flipping cover (6) is made of flexible material.

6. The luggage item according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein the lock mechanism (7) is selected from a zipper lock, a cable and a pad lock.

7. The luggage item according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the detachable attachment of the flipping cover (6) to the first shell (1) is provided by at least one magnet (10, 12) located on the surface of the first shell (1) and at least one corresponding metallic element (11, 13) made of magnetic metal or alloy, located at corresponding location(s) on the flipping cover (6).

8. The luggage item according to claim 7, wherein the detachable attachment of the flipping cover (6) to the first shell (1) is provided by a pair of magnets (10, 12) located on the surface of the first shell (1) and two corresponding metallic elements (11, 13) located at corresponding locations on the flipping cover (6).

9. The luggage item according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the detachable attachment of the flipping cover (6) to the first shell (1) is provided by at least one magnet (10, 12) located on the flipping cover (6) and at least one corresponding metallic element (11, 13) made of magnetic metal or alloy, located at corresponding location(s) on the surface of the first shell (1).

10. The luggage item according to any of the claims 1-9, wherein the luggage item body (4) comprises an additional separate compartment (14) for storing a laptop computer, the compartment (14) being accessible through the opening (5) in the first shell (1).

Drawing